The Positive Impact of Establishing an Internal Transfer Center

Abstract

Health systems are facing greater pressures than ever before, with factors ranging from mergers and acquisitions and changing reimbursement models to capacity challenges and staffing shortages. A transfer center, where with 1 simple call from a referring physician, a decision to accept a critically ill patient can be made, placing them at the most appropriate level of care, the first time. Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Florida, went from an outsourced to an in-house center in 3 months—in the first 28 days alone, patient transfers increased from 900 to 1,500, growing to an average of 1,583 transfers per month.